A couple's path to taking class instruction

NANCY

I was my parents’ first Christian Science healing, coming after a doctor told my mom she could not have any children. So I went to Sunday School my entire childhood. Because my parents talked about how much Christian Science Primary class instruction meant to them, and I could see the effectiveness of their prayers, I had always wanted to heal like them. Class instruction was something I knew I had to have in order to do that.

When my husband and I decided to let God direct our searches for a teacher, I went to our Christian Science Reading Room and studied articles in the bound volumes of The Christian Science Journal and Sentinel written by teachers and, in some cases, their spouses. After about a year, it was clear to me who my teacher was going to be. I had to confess to my husband that although we had both agreed not to ask my parents’ teacher for class instruction, this teacher was indeed where I felt God was sending me. To my surprise (and his) he, too, had made the same selection. So we applied together.

On the application we were asked if there was any physical problem we were working out that might distract us from being fully receptive to the teaching. I responded that I had always wanted to be a mother, but over the four years of our marriage we had been unable to conceive. The teacher called back and said we were accepted.

At first we thought my husband, by hitchhiking on military flights, would have the greatest challenge getting across the country to attend the class, but the challenge was mine as a political convention was ending in our city and flights were cancelled because of fog. Although there were many VIPs waiting for the few open seats, I was quietly given a seat just before the fog closed the airport again. Although I had no guaranteed flight from the next city, I held to the absolute truth that I was in my right place right then and nothing could keep me from being in my God-directed right place. At that airport I was given a seat on a flight to yet another city and finally got to my destination in time to attend the class.

The two weeks of daily instruction and late nights of research and study were absolutely uplifting and provided the foundation for my continued spiritual growth these many years since.

One month after completing class, I was pregnant, and the truths that we learned in those two wonderful weeks stayed with us as we raised our three children in health and safety.

MICHAEL

I was enrolled in the Christian Science Sunday School one week after my dad read the chapter “Prayer” from Mary Baker Eddy’s book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. My dad had been searching for a religion for our family for over a year, but until he opened Eddy’s book, none of his search held together for him.

I loved Sunday School. It answered questions about creation and eternal life that had puzzled my 12-year-old thought. I admired the wonderful teachers I had in Sunday School. Their thought was so clear, loving, and healing. I wanted to be like them, including having class instruction from a Christian Science teacher someday.

After I was married, my wife and I thought it would be ideal to take class from the same teacher, but we decided we would each pray for guidance about finding the right teacher for ourselves, and if that meant we would take class from different teachers, so be it.

Over the course of the year, I had one particularly instant and life-changing experience, where an unjust indictment against me was reversed one hour after I called a Christian Science practitioner (who was also a teacher). I realized I wanted to apply to him for class instruction. I did and was accepted into his next class.

At the time I was in the Navy and there was a hold on all leave because of an international alert, but I prayed to know that nothing could keep me from being where God would place me. A week before I was to leave, my commanding officer waived this restriction for me, and I had two of the most inspiring weeks of my experience. The truths I learned then have come back to me time and time again to guide, protect, bless, and heal.

One added blessing of having taken class instruction is attending our annual Christian Science association meeting to revisit with our teacher the truths we learned in class and understand their application to any challenges of the coming year.